The East, Central and Southern African College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ECSACOG) through a partnership with FIGO established a Community of Practice on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) comprised of 10 OBGYN member societies operating in Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Sudan.

“Let’s make a pact – no baby steps, we need a catalytic, transformative change for Africa”

Dr Anne Kihara, President-Elect, FIGO

Speaking at the first COP meeting, October 2022, on how it can address maternal mortality rates, access to safe abortion care, and contraception in Africa)

MISSION

The Community of Practice (CoP) leverages its clinical expertise and resources to address the scale of unsafe abortion in the East, Central and Southern Africa region.

CoP will achieve its mission by:

Utilising evidence-based clinical practices

Conducting educational and skills-based capacity trainings for health-care professionals and OBGYN trainees

Applying technological advancements

Grounding its work to strengthen accountability for the human rights of women and girls this includes their right to bodily autonomy, right to evidence-based information and accessing sexual reproductive health care services that are free from discrimination, judgement/stigma and coercive treatment and/or violence.

COP OBJECTIVES

Ensure inclusion of sexual reproductive health and rights and comprehensive abortion care in all pre-service/in-service training in the ECSA region.

Guide ECSACOG member societies, raise awareness, address sexual reproductive health (includes abortion) stigma through trainings and education.

Engage in national and regional advocacy and communication efforts on sexual reproductive health and rights including safe abortion care.

‘The ECSACOG-FIGO partnership is a relationship to build important momentum to address preventable causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in our African region.

OBGYNs and health professionals have long been at the forefront of the fight against preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, we have done this by sharing our first-hand insights and evidence to demonstrate this issue is not just a public health concern but a preventable social injustice that demands urgent focus.

Our ECSACOG-FIGO partnership is committed to fostering innovative solutions, amplifying our advocacy to strengthen health systems to better respond to the needs and entitlements of women and girls, which includes their right to access safe abortion care.”

Prof. Bellington Vwalika, Secretary General, ECSACOG

ECSACOG CORE VALUES

Professionalism Integrity

Quality through evidence – based practice Equity through advocacy.

Sustainability Innovation

Accountability

FURTHER INFORMATION

ECSACOG – https://ecsacog.org/

FIGO- www.figo.org